ATHLETICS IN JAPAN

Chronicle (Levin), 10 September 1947, Page 3

ATHLETICS IN JAPAN

(Official New ZeJtland Correspoiident

with J Foree.) Reeeived Tuesday,, 7.0 p.m. KURK, Sopt. 7. Yestcrday in Ku ro the 2nd N.Z.E.F. lini.shed a rather definite t'ourth in the annual quadrangular athletic meeting held by the B.C.O.F. in Japan. Througii no lack of spirit but, certainJy through laek of training, the 2nd N.Z.E.F. atiiletes scored only 7 points. Next came the British Commonwealth Base willi 21, two points behind the B.C.O.F. Combined Air Forees whose team was led by Flight Sergeant J. W. Robinson, of Auckland. With a line total of 51, the .'14th Australian Infantry Brigade scored a victory well deserved as it was eomplete. Most of the 2nd X.Z..E.F. points wero netted by .Seeond-Lieutenant Kon Langdon, of Wanganui, who produced his only win of the day in the 120yds high hurdles. His time was 10.5 seconaS'. Last year he won the same event but with the hurdles six inches lower, in 15.2 sceonds. Otlier scores for the 2nd N.Z.E.F. were chalked. up by Private E. B. Ashton, of Mappwatu, who flnished third in th,e. two-mile^vent and Piivate L. W. S. Dickinson, ,oi Ellerslie, third in the 8.30yds. Dickiiisoh looked likc a siire winner when he burst into a good lead 201) yards from the t'ape but the pate ,was too hot and two of the 34th .Brigade team. scraped past him. In the Tinui event of the day, the rclay, the 2nd N.Z.E.F. team .lilled yet anotlier tJiird plaee. The most prominent New Zealand athlcte of the day AvaS- Flight Lientonant H. F. Evans, of Christchurch, as a member of No. 14 Squadron. He was, of course, in the B.C. Air team and not with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. First in the discus throw (97ft. liins.) and second in the shot putt (36ft. lOUns.), Evans finished tliird for the position of champion athlete. In an attcmpt after the event he estabiished a B.C.O.F. record for a discus throw of 104ft. 4ins. Othcr members of the 14tli Squadron who helped the B.C. Air team along were U. C. Bird, of Te Awamutu, in the 220vds and the teain's leader Robinson who came in third in the hop, step and jump. Robinson was the Services athletic champion in New Zealand in 1942. The champion. athlete and by far the most outstanding performer at the

meeting was the Australian Clarrio Hayes, of the B.C. Base team. In the 100yds. he ehopped the existing B.C.O.F. record of 10.2 seconds down to ten seconds flat. In the 220 his time was- 23.1 seconds, 1,7 seconds better than the previous record. The hop,'* step and jump record which had slood at 40ft. lOlins., he extended to 43ft. 5ins. Though he did not win the brbad jump championship he estabiished a record for that event in the preliminary, jumping 21ft. 3ins. v